Comb Coris Wrasse

(Coris picta)

Coris Wrasse are known as Rainbow Wrasses with the males being more colorful and a bit larger than the females. Juvenile Rainbow Wrasse are generally reef safe but as they mature can start being a bit destructive. Harems can be kept in the aquarium with 1 male and several females if added at the same time. Provide an aquarium with ample rock work, cracks, crevices and caves for hiding and resting. Coris Wrasse are burrowers and need a thick sand bed to sleep and rest in. They spend a great deal of time turning over rock and coral rubble in search of crustaceans. Adults should be fed twice a day large amounts of meaty foods with juveniles being fed a few more times daily. Avoid adding smaller more peaceful fish as the Coris Wrasse may harass them. Wrasse are hermaphrodites meaning they start as juveniles/females but at some point in their life may turn into a male. Wrasse may jump provide an aquarium with a tight fitting lid.

The Comb Coris Wrasse are sometimes also known as Austalian Comb, Banana or Combfish Wrasse. Rarely seen in the aquarium trade. Juveniles, females and males will look a bit different. Juveniles are a silver white color with a wide black stripe running horizontally in the middle of its body. As the fish matures the black stripe will begin to take a comb like appearance. They will also begin to develope yellow fins and a dark red stripe on their heads. Comb Coris Wrasse can grow up to almost 10".

We recommend a minimum aquarium size of 150 gallons or larger for this species.

Water conditions: Salinity 1.020 - 1.025, Temp (F) 72 - 78, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Alkalinity 8 - 12 dKH

  • Care: CareModerateModerate
  • Behavior: BehaviorSocialSocial
  • Diet: DietFrozen FoodFrozen Food DietLive FoodLive Food
  • Habitat: HabitatSand FlatSand Flat HabitatReefReef
  • Light: LightHighHigh